And i wonder, how many of you have seen a doctor for mental problems or are on medication. It seems like alot more people than i thought and i wonder if i am missing something. I never thought i needed it, but now i wonder Is this common?

SuperC said:

Mental problems meaning depression?

I suffer from manic-depression and was on medication for it for a total of probably a year and a half, off an on. I prefer to deal with the rollercoaster sans meds. I don't feel like such a zombie then.

INSATIABLE said:

Yeah for the most part, i guess. I'm not an expert in this field. Back in the day you were either CRAZY or SANE. Now there is add and all kinds of stuff.

Chemical imbalance here... I cannot help it, but I don't like taking medication.

If that's what you mean, then yes, more people than most of you think have depression and/or anxiety. Over 80% are untreated, and many have no idea that it's what they're experiencing.

I understand that completely balanced people with no clue what it's like don't understand and even mock those suffering because of their disbelief, but please. Sometimes I swear to God I want to ram a spiked pole up their ass.


I'd never do it, but oh, the thought!

1 in 4 people suffer some form of mental illness every year, so yes it is common.

Stress, anxiety and depression are the most common.

IceNine said:

See your around my age ice. I never heard of all these different disorders or imbalances. I wondering if it was where i was brought up or the time period.

INSATIABLE said:

This happens quite a lot... and I'd like to do the same thing to those people!

I've actually tried Prozac and I think it made it worse for the time being. It made me feel... wrong.

I wish there was just something that could come and take it away. It inhibits so much in my life... but I've yet to find someone or something at my HMO that is effective, I am against meds and shrinks. It gets better and worse, back and forth. It's just something I have to live with.

SuperC said:

Depression is not CRAZY in any way... depressed people do not sit around watching happy pixies dancing around our heads all day, nor do we hear messages from Tralfamador directing us to build homosexual robots to sodomize Republicans... we are just depressed.

People who view depressed people as CRAZY only add to the problems of those who are depressed, as they now believe that others see them as CRAZY and not just depressed.

Maybe I should be on the lookout for all those people who are out to get me... Shit, I really hope that the tinfoil-coated football helmet that I am wearing is stopping my thoughts from being broadcast over AM radio.

AzureStar said:

Corny, but hey- what the hell.


whoops Azure! I read somewhere earlier that you aren't fond of emoticons... it's the thought that counts though!



.

INSATIABLE said:

Note to self. don't ever upset insatiable j/k
I feel like i have to tip-toe over this to be PC. But i am really curious. Is there anybody else in my shoes?

!

IceNine said:

That's not what i'm saying, things were very simple back in the day. Things that are considered disorders weren't when and where i grew up.


Help the edit
[This message was edited Tue Feb 18 17:07:41 PST 2003 by SuperC]

IceNine said:

I have found that way too many people are quick to use the term "you are crazy" when you are doing something that they don't feel is "right" for you. It seems that once it is known, that is the reason and justification for everything... "oh, she's got a mental disorder... she isn't thinking clearly".

INSATIABLE said:

Grrr!

Hugs 2 U, 2! (see, I can even do the princebonics thing!)

I had a girlfriend that was medicated for depression and I received an education. I could not plan a future with her and it hurt me to end it.

I have a new respect for depression, as I was one who grouped it all under crazy.

Now I know better and I hope that doctors learn more about it and find a real way of helping. Pills & therapy are not the answer (in my opinion).

Mental Problems I thought everybody who use the net was crazy... at least that's what the news says

DigitalLisa said:

Believe me i know i got issues, i just wonder when do you know you need medication for it?

I don't know one person who has not been depressed at least once or twice

I guess once u know u can't snap out of it ..... then u probably would need medication, but I don't think medication works, it just adds on 2 the probably because it's like a cover up...
[This message was edited Tue Feb 18 16:55:59 PST 2003 by DigitalLisa]

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

People do need to educate themselves on it... especially those who are close with someone with a chemical imbalance. It isn't easy to live with someone who has a disorder and educating yourself not only helps you to understand what is going on and why, but also helps the one with the disorder live a little easier.

It is extremely difficult being friends or in a relationship with people who do not understand or care to learn about it. So, yay for you for researching about depression to understand it more! That is a very good thing, I think...

DigitalLisa said:

Again, i agree. The question is when is it considered a disorder? When does the doctors prescibe meds?

There is no doubt that I'm as crazy as a loon.

I freely admit it.

On a serious note, I can gaurentee you that far more people suffer from mental illness than you could imagine. Mostly, it is controllable depression and anxiety. There are so many people out there with these problems that if you knew the full extent your mind would boggle.

Not me! Sex cures all.

Seriously.

DigitalLisa said:

Being depressed once or twice is somewhat different from having a chemical imbalance that you cannot control without medication to reduce or increase the amount of various chemicals in your brain. I have not been discussing being "down" or "blue" in my posts... I have been talking about something very different.

Depression is one thing I deal with all the time, I've also felt sucidal at times and it runs in my family, sometimes it gets real bad 2 point where I don't think I can get away from it, but ... the one thing that has kept me away from medication is God, it has been serious prayer and faith, I've seen people with a less case then what I have, been on medications and ended up worst then what they've begin with

Depression at my worst:

I could not get out of bed, no bath or shower, no brushing my teeth or hair, it was a chore to get up and go to the bathroom. I slept and slept and slept and would not leave my room for nearly two weeks.

You don't feel like talking, you CAN'T talk,just "being" is a struggle... you want to die, you want to live, you want to be left alone, you want to be with people, but you can't do a damned thing but lie there in bed.

It took a while to comb the snarls out of my hair after that time. That time really sucked. That was one of my worst moments ever.

IceNine said:

Exactly!

Depression and anxiety is more than being a little down or blue. It is a horrible sinking helplessness that is almost impossible to describe. It is very hard to explain.

You may be genetically prone to this chemical imbalance or it may be triggered by an event. I've had problems with an anxiety disorder since 2 years ago when I collpsed at work due to a heart irregularity. My heart turned out to be alright but my fear of death from the collapse (I thought I was dropping dead) set off an anxiety reaction that I could not stop. I also had some bouts of depression.

Medication really helped me and I'm now off it. I'm still prone to bouts of anxiety but have learnt to control it mostly. It now doesn't prevent me from doing anything but I am wary of it.

I hope my sharing helps because i dont usually do this type of thing.

AzureStar said:

This is level that I experienced. What do you do as someone who cares?

I did research it, I went to therapy but in the end it was all about her illness.

I could do nothing, it sucked. It was like unable to fix something that you cared about. Then it just seemed like I was taking abuse.